"Commercial Tents at Pretoriuskop "

[Lisbeth]

........and the seats?

It is not that bad YET and it is still possible to stop the madness, but how?

[Richprins]

Night drives are extra.

RP do you have any links to more info to see what is included in this operators quoted rate?

No, Mike, sorry, but I got it from source. One can look at the merchandising. Point is mercifully they don't drive around themselves at night too!

[Lisbeth]

[mikef]

Night drives are extra.

RP do you have any links to more info to see what is included in this operators quoted rate?

No, Mike, sorry, but I got it from source. One can look at the merchandising. Point is mercifully they don't drive around themselves at night too!

From their website http://tentedadventures.com/kruger-national-park/ they list the following as included in their rate:
- Dinner, bed & breakfast
- Early morning and late afternoon game drive per person per night
- Teas and coffees
- Welcome drink
- Entry fees
- Wine is served during dinner

Based on above their rate does not seem out of line with other safari operators.

I assume they are booking and paying for only 2 persons per site unless actual occupancy on a given date is more. In addition SP will be losing out on conservation fees if nobody actually occupies a site on a particular day. The bigger issue is that by removing prime sites from the pool available to the normal tourist overall SP and other visitors will lose out unless this is carefully managed. Still not a bad business setup for the operator

[Lisbeth]

I have seen some crazy prices and if I did not know what a self catering bungalow in Kruger costs, I'd probably not be impressed......I'd only look for something else

There is not mentioned "Bathroom" and that would certainly make me exclude the tents ! and the heat in summer.....no mention of "Air condition" either and I forgot that the nice picture of armchairs and dinner table is common. There is not even a boma.

[somabhula]

Does anyone here believe that this venture will actually show a profit at the end of the day, or just well padded pockets

As I know very little about the ins and outs of tourism as such, but lots about profits, losses and things, I cannot see the viability (longer term). Also have heard that certain other operations(along these lines) in other places (National Parks in bordering countries) have run into endless problems (again bottom line issues). Maybe one of you with more local knowledge has some insight??

[Richprins]

Regarding simple economics I think it will show a large profit, Soma? There are absolutely no daily overheads other than the base rate campsite fee for two campers. The fact that they pay the yearly amount up front is indicative, and has been going on for a while before this. A few months of suckers going for the full package will cover it, as in R5000 per night per tent x 5 tents x 5 nights per month, conservatively, for 6 months, conservatively, already close to a million.

And I'm sure all sorts of other operators will be given access to fill shortfalls especially in-season. So ja. BTW, it turns out operators don't have to register any more, so on-site negotiations or internet bookings only required.

The permutations are endless!

[somabhula]

Wasn't so much thinking about the people occupying said tents, etc. More about costs of being allowed to set up such operation!
Also coming into the equations recent developments of interest, tourist safety and the ever steeply rising cost of air travel.

[mikef]

Both Sanparks and the operator potentially could earn reasonable profits from this venture although I do not think it will be massive. Assuming they book 10 sites per month (8 sleeping tents + lounge / dining area) at current rates they will be paying Sanparks about R100k/month which would explain Sanparks willingness to allow this. I suspect the camping sites at PK are not the most popular and possibly do not have a very high annual occupancy rate.

Assuming further that of the rate of R2450/person approximately R1450 is needed to cover the meals, game drives and conservation fees that would leave about R1k/person to cover the SP site hire and provision of the tents etc. I would guess they would need an average occupancy rate of at least 25% just to break even and about 50% to start earning a fair return.

[Richprins]

Deposit:
• Reservations made 365 days in advance pay 33% within 30 days of making the
booking.
• Balance (67%) is payable 30 days before arrival.
• Reservations made within 30 days pay 100% within 5 days of making the reservation.
• Reservations made within 5 days of arrival are to be paid within 24 hours.
Cancellations:
• Percentage is calculated on the client’s total reservation cost payable.
• Cancel within 30 to 15 days before arrival - 25%.
• Cancel within 14 to 7 days before arrival – 50%.
• Cancel within 6 days and less – 100%.
Modifications:
• For downgrading of a reservation when a deposit has been paid, percentage is
calculated on the difference:
• Modify within 30 to 15 days before arrival – 25%.
• Modify within 14 to 7 days before arrival – 50%.
• Modify within 6 days and less – 100%.
• When modifying the arrival date to an earlier date, no modification fees will be
charged, unless the total cost is decreased and the arrival date before the
modification fell inside the 30-day period.


https://www.sanparks.org/bookings/